Pontardawe Arts Centre’s Young Director Development Programme

Thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Wales Pontardawe Arts Centre is delighted to announce the creation of The Pontardawe Young Director’s Award with a bursary of £5,000 for the successful candidate.  We are looking to recruit a young director who will work at the Arts Centre on three projects produced by Pontardawe Arts Centre within an eight month period.

(This is a trainee position for anybody interested in building their experience)

Shake if Up Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

7 Sep – 16 Oct 2015

This will be the fourth year of delivering this programme with previous performances being Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice. There will be a three week rehearsal period followed by a three week tour period with six performances in Pontardawe followed by a further nine performances at five other venues in South Wales.  This project is directed by Derek Cobley and involves a cast of twelve, with stage manager and technical manager.  The trainee will be expected to attend full rehearsals (7 Sep – 25 Sep).  Attendance throughout the tour will be optional although it will form an opportunity to increase networks within the sector.

Pontardawe Arts Centre’s Script Slam

Twelve scripts will be selected and performed in three heats during the autumn season. Dean Verbeck, the director of Script Slam, works with a team of professional actors to deliver script in hand performances.  At each of the heats the judging panel select one script and the audience select one script which go on to be performed in the final.  Following feedback from the heats writers of the selected pieces are given the opportunity to revise their piece in readiness for the final.  At the Grand Final, the judges select a winning script and the writer given the opportunity to work with the Arts Centre on one week of R and D with the hope that it will be developed to full production.

The dates of the script slams will be Tuesday 6 October, Tuesday 3 November,

Tuesday 1 December with the final on Tuesday 26 January.  Rehearsal schedule to be confirmed.

Hubert and Humble –March/April 2016 (exact date to be confirmed)

This is a theatre piece which has been developed from the winning script from the PAC Script Slam in 2013.  There will be a two week rehearsal period for this production which will then go on to tour.  Hubert and Humble will be directed by Louise Osborn who also acted as dramaturge in the initial development of the piece.

The three productions are significant for the trainee as being three very different types of work.  A large cast touring production aimed at both an educational market and for the general public, a comedy drama two hander which will tour on the Night Out Scheme and a series of short pieces of new writing.

Mentored by three highly experienced directors on a range of texts (a classic text, a comedy drama and a series of short pieces of new writing) the Trainee Director will gain the opportunity to experience a range of different styles of performance, and directorial approaches with the different focus that this will require.

The successful candidate will observe and assist the director and work throughout the organisation.  Each of the three productions will commence with preparatory work and culminate in an evaluation after the production which will enable the trainee to experience first hand the creative decisions made by the directors and to contribute to the development as appropriate. 

The aim of this project is to support and encourage the next generation of creative artist.  We are looking for someone to invest in.  The expectation being that if the relationship prospers further creative activity will be developed for that individual to become engaged in at the centre. 

We would expect to see evidence of experience within the arts sector although not necessarily full directorial responsibility.  If you would like to apply please send a cv with a covering statement on what you would hope to achieve by taking part in the residency to Angie at a.dickinson@npt.gov.uk

Interviews will take place on Thursday 23 July

The closing date for application is Friday 17 July